Samsung Buys Sony Out Of Joint LCD Venture

Back in 2004 Sony and Samsung set up a joint venture to produce LCD TVs with a separate company which was called the S-LCD Corporation, and now Sony has announced that Samsung will buy its stake in the company for $939 million.

For Sony, this transaction will enable it to monetize its shares in S-LCD and aims to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung, based on market prices and without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility. With whole ownership of S-LCD, Samsung anticipates heightened flexibility, speed and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.
Obviously this will help Sony with their cash flow as the company reported losses earlier in the year of $1.2 billion.

Samsung Shows Off Transparent LCD TV

Samsung has released some photos of their new transparent LCD panel, the Samsung LTI460AP01, which is a 46 inch inch transparent LCD display, and according to Samsung it will use just 10 percent of the power that a standard LCD uses.
Have a look at the photos of this transparent LCD display below, we suspect we will see more of this device at CES 2012 next month, and it certainly looks interesting from the photos.

We wonder how long it will be before we will see these transparent LCD displays in the stores, we suspect it will be a few years yet.

Samsung denies ICS update to Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab 7.0

  Going by Samsung’s previous record, the news of Samsung not releasing Ice Cream Sandwich OS update for Galaxy S and the original Galaxy Tab is not really surprising. Samsung produces one of the best hardware in the industry but struggles when it comes to do the same on software. Samsung has blamed the limited amount of RAM and ROM on both the devices, which apparently is unable to run the OS smoothly due to some Samsung modifications to the UI, widgets, video calls etc.
Incidentally, Galaxy S’ specs are same as Nexus S but the Google phone can run Android 4.0 since it lacks the TouchWiz UI.
Let’s hope given by the consumer’s wrath with the decision Samsung backtracks and releases a stock version of the OS just to win the consumers’ confidence.

Get Ice Cream Sandwich’s Face Unlock On Your Nexus S

If you haven’t received the ICS update yet for your Nexus S (GSM) and/or you’re on Sprint’s version of the device and wanting some ICS gimmicky love, we’ve got a treat for you.  Thanks to the Nexus S’s front facing VGA shooter, the device is now able to support ICS’s Face Unlock feature.  Thanks to our friends over at Android Central, all the necessary files have been extracted from the Galaxy Nexus and it’s working flawlessly on both versions of the Nexus S.  Ready to give it a go?  Be sure to point your browser to the respective version of the device you’re rocking and don’t forget to let us know how well it works in the comments

Pro Tip: Take Photos During Video Recording with the Galaxy Nexus

With Android 4.0′s updated camera software, the Galaxy Nexus has quite a few tricks up its sleeve for blossoming photographers. Time lapse video and sweeping panoramic views are just the tip of the ice berg. Here’s one feature that you will hopefully be as pleasantly surprised to discover as I was.
While using the camera in video mode, tapping the screen will take a snapshot of the scene without interrupting video recording (a red box around the viewfinder means you’re doing it right). Results aren’t as instant as when using the camera in photo mode and you lack the ability to refine the shot’s focus and adjust other parameters, but the functionality insures the best of both worlds, allowing you to capture life’s precious moments without missing a beat. Opinions may vary on the image quality of the Galaxy Nexus’ 5MP camera, but you can’t argue with the rich set of capabilities Google has built into the Ice Cream Sandwich software.

Kindle Fire Receives Early Build Of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich [Video]

You had to see this coming and many of you have actually been waiting for this moment. Android’s first successful “budget” tablet — the Kindle Fire — has finally gotten its taste of Ice Cream Sandwich thanks to the tireless Android modding community who dropped a pre-alpha AOSP ROM for the device early today.

Just how pre-alpha is this build you ask? Liliputing provided a video of Kindle Fire running ICS and I’d have to say, it doesn’t look too shabby. While still very much a work-in-progress, the processor seems to handle the ROM quite smoothly with most of the kinks coming form the software side of things where audio and video functionality are currently broken. Developers did manage to find a fix for the SD card storage problem they were having where the device wouldn’t recognize internal storage. Progress seems to be moving along nicely.
Special thanks to JackpotClavin for getting the pre-alpha ROM up and running. For the adventurous or extremely curious, you can hit up the XDA source link for all the downloads and Liliputing put together a handy quick guide for getting it up and running on your rooted Kindle Fire. If you guys decide to give it a try, check back in here and let us know how it went.

Click here to find out more! Samsung buys out Sony S-LCD share in $940m TV deal

Sony will sell its shares in the LCD panel joint-venture S-LCD to partner Samsung, the two companies have announced, in a deal worth $940m, as the Japanese firm struggles to coax profit out of its TV line. S-LCD Corporation had been established in 2004 by Sony and Samsung, with this new deal – that will leave S-LCD a wholly owned Samsung subsidiary – expected to close by the end of January 2012. Sony will continue to source displays for some of its TVs from S-LCD.


“This transaction will enable [Sony] to monetize its shares in S-LCD and aims to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung, based on market prices and without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility” the Japanese company says. As for Samsung, it “anticipates heightened flexibility, speed and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.”
The deal is another step in Sony’s attempts to bring its large-format LCD business into profit, the TV division proving to be a significant money pit in recent quarters. Back in November, Sony warned of losses of around $1.15bn, with under-performance in the TV segment a sizable contributor to that.
Initial goals of LCD production, Sony explained, had been set when there was a shortage of panels and the belief that demand would continue to grow. Both those factors proved unreliable, leaving Sony with a wasteful production setup. The company announced plans to divide the LCD business into three, one section handling the legacy LCD TV business (using Sony-designed and produced components), another the ODM business (using third-party components) and finally a group that would be responsible for “developing and designing the next generation TV.”

Crappy Android tablet : a Christmas Guide

When the going gets tough, and you first-world gift receivers are crying because ALL YOU GOT was an Android tablet that wasn’t quite the iPad 2 or the Transformer Prime you were hoping for, listen to this: I’m not going to punch you in the face for being ungrateful more than one time, and here’s a list of things you can do with this non-returnable hunk of technology trash. You’ve got a tablet running some form of Android and a processor that’s not the worst in the world, but certainly isn’t as nice as even the most basic high-end smartphone out there: what do you do? You fill it up to the brim with music, news, and simple games with low requirements for high amounts of fun.


First, get Google Music working with your tablet. Google has a situation going on right now where you can upload 300,000 of your favorite tracks to their cloud connected to your Google account. When you do, they’re streamable to any Android device or computer-based web browser through your device’s web connection. This can even work over a wi-fi connection which is likely what you’ve got going on with a low-end Android tablet. It’s simple and it works. Get started here with the app, then head to music.gooogle.com to upload : [Google Music on Android Market] FREE

Next, download Google Currents. It’s an online news reader that works to take all of the blogs and online publications you usually read and put them in an easy-to-read, easy-to-work with format. You can get this application for Android tablet and Android handsets and it can instantly import your Google Reader feeds. And you can add SlashGear to it simply by heading to the Tech section – we’re there! [Google Currents on Android Market] FREE

Of course you need Android Community and SlashGear in app form, right? Yes indeed! Both are made to work on any kind of Android tablet, be it big or small, powerful or just downright terrible, without a hitch! Follow your two favorite tech blogs in style: [SlashGear on Android Market] and [Android Community on Android Market] both FREE

Finally, download Minecraft. While on other Android devices I’d suggest more high-powered applications and games, in Minecraft you’ve got the most impressive looking application for such low requirements in your hardware, and it’s fun. You go around blowing up bits of your environment and have the ability to build a new one. What else could you possibly want in this world? [Minecraft - Pocket Edition / Pocket Edition DEMO on Android Market] FREE (or $6.99 for the full edition)

And of course, if there’s anyone out there with an app they’d like to promote because it requires little to no processing power and would love for the crappypad owners to try it out, comment away!

Carphone Warehouse offering up Nexus S for £199.95

The UK sale wagon continues to roll, with the Samsung Nexus S being offered up by Carphone Warehouse for a few pence under £200 SIM free. 

If you're anxious to get some pure Ice Cream Sandwich goodness but can't stretch to a Galaxy Nexus, at this price point the Nexus S is a bonafide bargain. Hit the source link for more information.

Weather Underground for Android

Weather Underground has long been a go-to source for weather information online. And now, finally, we have a proper Weather Underground Android app.
The main view is a nicely laid out three-panel screen.  The top section shows the current temperature, "feels like" temp, wind speed and direction, humidity and a thumbnail image of what it's like outside. Tap it and you'll get the current dewpoint, visibility, pressure (in inches), wind gusts, GPS coordinates, and when the conditions were last updated. Tap it a third time and you'll get a brief forecast for the rest of the week.
The second section, in the middle of the screen, shows three days at a glance, with high/low temperatures and chance of precipitation. You can swipe to get the next three days. Tap a day to get the hourly forecast.
And the bottom section of the main view, taking up a little less than half of the entire screen, is a Google map with nearby personal weather stations reporting the current temperature. Tap the map, and it goes to a full-screen version with radar laid on top. You can adjust the overlays of the "WunderMap," toggling storm tracks, satellite, visible satellite, temperatures, cameras and animation.
Other options include making locations as favorites, seeing sever weather alerts for a location, and signing into your Weather Underground account.
All in all, the Weather Underground app continues Wunderground's penchant for excellent weather information, and it works well enough on Android smartphones and tablets. But the app's animations are fairly laggy, and it doesn't yet have a home screen widget. And while we're just starting the winter season, we'd hope to see a dedicated tropical weather section (if not an entire app from Wunderground) by the start of hurricane season June 1. But, hey, the app's free, and it's quickly found a place on our phones.
We've got download links, hands-on video and more screen shots after the break.

Youtube link for mobile viewing

Get an Android for Christmas? Need help with your Android? Here's where to start!

So you found a new Android phone under your tree this year did you?  Welcome to the family, we're glad you're here, and you picked the right place to visit.  We understand all the options and choices can be a bit overwhelming if you're new to smartphones in general, or switching from another platform.  We have you covered, and here's a great set of resources to get you started.

• Android forums: Most times the answers you want and need come from people just like you -- Android users.  You'll find out forums full of helpful and friendly people, who also know their stuff when it comes to Android devices. 
• Help and Tips: When your new phone or tablet can do so much, sometimes it's hard to figure out the how and where.  These handy tips will get you pointed in the right direction so you can begin to make things you own.
• Accessories: Looking for a case to protect your new phone?  Or maybe you want a spare battery or a new data cable?  We have you covered at the Android Central store. 
• Applications: Android has about half a million apps, and sorting through them all is impossible.  We can help -- we look at more than a few and let you know about the ones we're particularly fond of.  Check it out!
• And finally, our own forums adviser milominderbinder has the ultimate resource for any Android user in his Getting Started With Android post.  It's legendary, and we're darn lucky to have him around.  Be sure to have a read -- I promise you'll learn something. 
• The Android Dictionary:  You're going to see a lot of terminology you may not understand, and we've got a great reference here for you.  Bookmark this one.

You're in for a treat with your new Android powered device, and you can always count on us to steer you right.  Settle in, and enjoy yourselves!

Samsung’s dual sim phone “Galaxy S II Duos” is exclusive to China

Remember the days when the mobile devices with dual sim card capability called as one fo the worst devices? Well, those days are far behind as Samsung has decided to launch a dual sim version of Galaxy S II called as the SGS II Duos in China.

Thought this device is being launched in China and there is very slight hope that it will be launched worldwide, I hope that Samsung is planning to launch some powerful dual sim devices globally in 2012. The duos will support both CDMA and GSM. Except for the network support and the 1800 mAh battery which is a bump from 1650 mAh battery present in the global version of Galaxy S2, nothing else has been changed. Also from the image it looks like there is a slight change to the design, also the back cover is now smoother like the U.S version of the device.

Samsung Omnia Taxi follows the Nokia Lumia Taxi

Nokia has been crazily promoting it’s Lumia handsets in India under the Amazing Everyday banner and I’m sure none of you might have missed the news (Even my mom knows about it !). Nokia launched the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 in India. Nokia had offered Taxi rides and much more to early adopters and now looks like Samsung is following Nokia’s footsteps with the launch of it’s Omnia W Smartphone in the country. Watch the Samsung  Omnia Taxi after the break and Nokia Lumia Taxi in action.

Samsung seems to have parked Samsung Omnia Taxis outside Nokia stores in an attempt to woo consumers. The Windows Phone battle has just begun in India !

Samsung Galaxy Y Price in India – Full touchscreen Android Smartphone for Young

The new Samsung Galaxy Y is a large 3-inch full touchscreen display Smartphone running the Android v2.3 OS . It is an affordable price smartphone targeted at the youth . Powered by a 832MHz CPU , the Samsung Galaxy Y supports multi-tasking and high speed connectivity options like 3G and Wireless LAN .It is also known as Samsung S5360 .

Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 mobile specifications :

• Network : Quad band GSM , Dual band UMTS
• Form factor : Candy Bar Touchscreen
• Display : 3.0-inch touchscreen , 320×240 pixels resolution
• Operating system : Android v2.3
• Processor : 832 MHz
• Camera : 2 mega-pixel
• Wireless connectivity : Bluetooth v3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n , Wi-Fi tethering (hotspot)
• Data : 3G HSDPA 7.2Mbps
• Multimedia :
• Music Player : MP3, eAAC+, WAV
• Video player : MP4, H.263, H.264
• Internal memory : 180MB
• Expandable memory up to 32GB , microSD card slot
• Social networking Apps
• Sensors : Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass
• Android market access
• Pre-loaded GMail , Google Search
• GPS Navigation , Google Maps apps
• Dimensions : 104 x 58 x 11.5 mm
• Weight : 97.5 g
• Battery : 1200 mAh
• Talk time (maximum) : 9 hours (2G), 5 hours (3G)
• Standby Time (maximum) : 400 hours (2G), 350 hours (3G)

Samsung Galaxy Y Price in India : Rs.6,850 on 27 December 2011 . It is an affordable price smartphone for youth and is available in India .